KARACHI, July 29: A head constable was shot dead in what police described as an act of targeted killing in Quaidabad on Monday morning, police said.

They said that Head Constable Zafar Iqbal, 41, was performing his duty at a Post Office in Quaidabad when two armed motorcyclists targeted him.

The suspects also took away his official rifle.

He sustained two bullet wounds in the head and was taken to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, where doctors pronounced him dead.

The police said the incident was an act of targeted killing.

The victim was father of three and originally hailed from Sargodha.

Suspect killed in ‘encounter’

A suspected hit man was killed, his wounded aide was held and two of their accomplices escaped in an alleged encounter in the Pirabad area on Monday, police said.

They said that a police patrol spotted some suspects in a graveyard. Sensing danger, the suspects started firing on the police, which returned fire. In an exchange of gunfire, a man, identified as Israr Baloch, was killed and another suspect, Muhammad Ali, was arrested in wounded condition.

Pirabad SHO Abdul Moid told Dawn that the Sindh government had announced a reward for the arrest of the deceased.

He said that the held suspect was wanted in several cases of targeted killings in Pirabad, Orangi Town and in Mardan.

He said one grenade, three 9mm pistols and one vehicle were seized.

Orangi Town SP Chaudhry Asad Ali told Dawn that a wanted criminal, Mehfoozullah alias Bhalu, and his accomplice, Akram, managed to escape in ‘wounded condition’.

Guard killed in botched robbery bid

A bank guard was shot dead and a member of the staff wounded by armed robbers who tried to loot a bank in Shershah on Monday. The suspects fled without looting anything.

Police said three to four armed men stormed into a bank branch located at the Shershah roundabout. One of them opened fire on the bank guard, Attaullah, 35, who died. He also fired on a bank staff, identified as Haider Ali.

As the bank manager rang the alarm, the robbers fled without looting anything.

The victim guard belonged to the Police Foundation and originally hailed from Khairpur.

The second wounded man was a ‘messenger’ of the bank.

Shershah SHO Ejaz Khawaja said that the CCTV footage showed that the suspects stayed there for up to seven seconds and fled when the bank manager rang the alarm.

Watchman killed in Kalri

A watchman was shot dead in the Kalri area.

Police said that Abdul Sattar Niazi, 40, was performing his duty at a truck stand on Mauripur Road when two masked gunmen targeted him. He sustained three bullets and was taken to the Civil Hospital Karachi where doctors declared him dead.

“The murder appears to be a result of some personal enmity,” believed Kalri SHO Zulfiqar Marri.

He said the victim was a watchman at the truck stand.

Youth shot dead at Gurumandir

A young man was shot dead near Gurumandir, police said.

They said that Abdul Rehman, 35, was riding a motorcycle when armed motorcyclists attacked him on Business Recorder Road within the jurisdiction of the Jamshed Quarters police station.

The wounded was taken to the JPMC where doctors pronounced him dead. The victim was a resident of Lines Area. The motive for the killing could not be ascertained immediately.

Two bodies found in gunny bags

Bodies of two young men, stuffed in gunny bags, were found near a petrol pump on Hub River Road, according to the SITE-B police.

The bodies bore torture marks.

One of the victims was later identified as Abdul Rehman, said the police.

Armed clash leaves passer-by dead

A clash between two armed groups in Baldia Town left a passer-by dead, police said.

They said that two communities fought with one another in Swat Colony and exchanged gunfire. Tanveer Javed Siddiqi, 20, was passing through the area when he sustained bullet wounds. He was taken to the Civil Hospital Karachi where doctors pronounced him dead on arrival.

Man killed in Orangi

A man was gunned down in Orangi Town on Monday, said the Iqbal Market police.

They said that Muhammad Hafiz was killed in Hawa Goth.

The victim was a drug addict, said Iqbal Market SHO Amjad Kayani.